Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga ranges and the greater Virunga conservation area. Volcanoes National Park is bordered by Mgahinga National Park of Uganda in the north, Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo in the North West.

A Simple Background about Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is a Russian professional Tennis player that was born on 19th April 1987. She has lived in the United States since 1994. Maria Sharapova is a global tennis star, a five-time grand slam winner and former world number 1. Despite an injury-prone career, Sharapova has achieved a rare level of longevity in women’s tennis, having won at least one singles title a year from 2003 until 2015, a streak only bested by three players; Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Chris Evert.

Sharapova is the latest star athlete to visit the mountain gorillas in Rwanda after Arsenal defender David Luiz last month.

Tips About Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes national park Rwanda shelters the highest population of mountain gorillas in the Virunga conservation area. Rwanda gorilla safari tour has become a dream for most travellers in the world. A Rwanda safariis an amazing experience which brings you close to the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. The interesting stories and unforgettable experiences about the activity keep the potential gorilla trekkers wondering how the entire gorilla safari Rwanda can be from the start to the end.

All travellers must carry their valid gorilla permits and other related documents for clarification to see gorillas. A gorilla permit costs USD 1500 in Rwanda.

Dressing appropriate for the jungle is essential for a successful gorilla trekking experience. This is in good light hiking boots for easy movement in slippery muddy grounds, gardening gloves to grab the bushes for support and the rain gears for the unpredictable forest weather. Also, long socks tucked into trousers, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters. Insect repellents, hat, sunglasses, and waterproof bags are very helpful. A traveller with proper dressing code is assured of an ultimate memorable gorilla trekking safari experience in Rwanda.

Porter’s and hiking sticks are not compulsory but are among the key factors for an enjoyable and successful trek. Porters help in carrying traveller’s luggage and providing support where need be in the process of hiking. The hiking sticks enable easy movement If the steep slopes where hiking becomes difficult. Porters and walking sticks are hired from the park headquarters at a fair cost.

After the briefing, travellers start off an actual gorilla trekking safari Rwandain the Volcanoes Park. Each group of travellers is led by an armed ranger and a park guide hiking up and down in search of the allocated gorilla family. It’s not an easy venture but rather energetic hiking via slippery muddy grounds with thorny bushes and cold weather inside the dense forests. Hiking time may vary from 30 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the movement and location of the gorillas. Hiking is an opportunity to encounter other animals such as monkeys, baboons and many bird species, which together make the experience memorable.

After hiking for whichever length, you finally meet the gentle giants; relaxed in their families. The clock will start ticking for an hour. It’s here that all fatigue, panting and sweating due to the hike will disappear into excitement and joy as look into the eyes of a dominant silverback guarding the entire family. Travellers are reminded to keep calm and observe carefully the unique human-like characters of each gorilla in the family.

Twin Gorillas

Rwanda gorilla safaris usually give you a chance to tourists who visit Volcanoes National Park to take a hike to the Dian Fossey tombs and have an insight into the life story of the remarkable Dr Dian Fossey who dedicated a big part of life towards conservation of these incredibly beautiful creatures. Volcanoes national park became a research station for an American natural researcher Dian Fossey who set up a research centre for mountain gorillas on land between the mounts of Bisoke and Karisimbi in 1967. Dian Fossey devoted her life to understanding these gentle mountain giants and she is greatly credited for making it her personal mission to make the whole world understand that these gorilla species faced extinction if nothing was done to ensure the survival and continuity of this species of gorillas. Unfortunately, in 1985, Dian Fossey was brutally murdered at her home by unknown assailants and its believed that this act of cowardice was perpetrated by mountain gorillas’ poachers who saw her works as a threat to their business of poaching. She was buried inside this park next to her favourite gorilla named Digit as a tribute to her outstanding work efforts to see to it that these gorillas are given a fair shot at survival. Dian Fossey’s works have been highly appreciated by the larger international community and her work and legacy have been portrayed in a documentary film entitled “Gorillas in the Mist” which is based on her autobiography.